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May 22, 2010

Wisconsin PTV "welcome home" for Vietnam vets draws over 25,000

More than 25,000 Wisconsin veterans and their supporters journeyed to the LZ Lambeau outreach May 21-23 in Green Bay, Wisc., organized by Wisconsin Public Television, the state Department of Veterans Affairs, the Wisconsin Historical Society and many vets' groups. The gathering was meant as a "welcome home" for Vietnam-era military members (image: Current). The highlight was an evening show inside legendary Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, with music performances and preview segments of WPT's documentary on veterans from the state. A moving "Missing Man Table Ceremony" honored POWs and MIAs, and 1,244 empty chairs nearly filled the football field, one for each military member and civilian from Wisconsin killed or missing in action in Southeast Asia. Bryce Kirchoff of the National Center for Media Engagement told Current at Lambeau that two more states are planning "LZ" (military lingo for "landing zone") events. NCME invites stations to get a wrap-up report from WPT and tips for planning their own LZ during a Peer Webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern on June 23. More event coverage and photos in the next issue of Current, June 7.